The family of the female pilot, who was part of the first crew to repatriate South Africans out of Wuhan, China, has dismissed social media rumours that she died due to COVID-19 complications.
39-year-old Nakedi Tebatso Ntshane passed away on Sunday following cancer-related complications, the family said.
She worked for South African Airways, and earlier this year, she volunteered to fly to the then epicentre of the coronavirus to bring back stranded South Africans from the Chinese city.
Ntshane’s death sparked vicious social media posts claiming she had died after contracting the coronavirus.
Her family says they are disappointed at the fake news and wanted to clarify the cause of death.
The pilot from Atteridgeville in Pretoria was commended by President Cyril Ramaphosa for her patriotism and bravery for being part of the repatriation efforts.
Meanwhile, tributes are pouring in for the mother of one, many thanking her for her courage and service to the nation.
The ANC Caucus in the Gauteng Legislature mourns the passing of Ntshane and denounces the fake news around her death.
“We are deeply saddened by the spread of fake news and gutter journalism on the cause of Naked’s death. We are appalled by the level of disrespect and invasion of privacy of the deceased and the family by those who are sensationalising this tragedy on social and mainstream media.”
In the video below, Pres. Ramaphosa, Minister Mkhize hail SA-Wuhan repatriation team:
#COVID19 | President @CyrilRamaphosa yesterday saw off the 112 South African citizens who are being reunited with their families after testing negative for coronavirus at the end of their #quarantine period at the Ranch Resort in Polokwane.#CoronaVirusSA pic.twitter.com/fvHmzIZhut
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) March 30, 2020
#COVID19 | The group was placed under quarantine at the resort from 14 March 2020 after they were repatriated from #Wuhan in the Hubei Province of the People’s Republic of China ?? following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. #CoronaVirusSA pic.twitter.com/D1EG3Mf17G
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) March 30, 2020
#COVID19 #CoronaVirusSA pic.twitter.com/yNZuZAOpiH
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) March 30, 2020
President #Ramaphosa: Yesterday, I went to meet the 114 South Africans who were evacuated from #Wuhan in China and are going back to their homes after two weeks in #quarantine in Polokwane. pic.twitter.com/JvulolCUah
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) March 30, 2020
President #Ramaphosa: They are a group of wonderful South Africans who are diverse in age, race, gender and place of origin. For months, they have been in lockdown, first in Wuhan for some 51 days and then in Polokwane for 14 days. pic.twitter.com/SwDShPt0V8
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) March 30, 2020
President #Ramaphosa: We thank the SAA crew, the medical team, the police and soldiers and the wonderful staff and management of the Ranch Hotel for having made this operation a great success. pic.twitter.com/Q08oexu1dh
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) March 30, 2020
Additional reporting by Chriselda Lewis
